The Cybergypsies by Indra Sinha

Author:Indra Sinha [Sinha, Indra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471152924
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

The lament of Gawain

When his complaints drew no response from Micronet’s officials, Gawain sank into a mythopoeic gloom. The injustice grew in his mind until it overshadowed all else. He sat on Shades, as Morgan had done before him, and complained to anyone who would listen, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m a good player. Fair. Generous with newcomers, an honorable fighter. I was a responsible immortal. I was popular. Other players listened to my advice. Now the lowest mortals sneer at me.’

One of his friends, Elefizz the Jumbubble, advised, ‘Go to the Coder. Only he can sort this out.’

Sofarsogood the Cautious said, ‘The Coder sees more than the rest of us. If he does criticise you, you can be sure he has reason.’

Another friend, Billdaddy the Deadbeat said, ‘The Coder don’t punish but players who blow bad jazz. Look again. You’re gonna find something ungroovy in the woodshed. But when you do, just slap the Man an apology and all will be copacetic.’

Gawain replied, ‘Two things are sure, Hobo-daddy. You are a rotten roleplayer, and nobody wins an argument with the Coder.’

Then another player, Ellie the Jellydancing, came forward and said: ‘You’re all missing the point. Gawain, let’s say you really are being unfairly treated. The point is, so what? Who are you – any of you – to question the Coder or what he does?’

Ellie said, ‘Ask yourself, who are you? Your immortality is his work. Your eternal life is in his hand. He made you and he can unmake you. Just look at the wonderful things he has done. Out of nothing he conjured this creation. How marvellous, how intricate it is. Open your eyes, see how the mist is lifting off the river. Could you have made it happen? Look at how the dust devils are stirring and whirling leaves into the air. Whose imagination brought these to life? Do you feel the first damp gusts, as clouds unpile above? See how the light goes green and the trees shine like thunder. My heart throbs like a tom-tom for – hear how the forest roars – he is coming. Gawain, prepare to meet your Coder. Now that the time has come, Gawain, with what words will you speak to him? Do you know his language, the secret code that causes rain to fall at his command “Rain!”? Lightning flashes and bangs the clouds like drums. Open your ears and listen to how the fat raindrops are beginning to hit: one, a spatter, hundreds. Notice the goodly smell of rain on dry ground. All this, he makes. He tells the rain “Rain!” and it sheets down, already a waterfall hangs from the mouth of this cave and out in the game people and animals lit by eerie flashes are running for shelter. How the wind climbs in the leaves, moans in hollow trees and shrieks in crevices of rock; all the instruments of the world are tuned to welcome him; the storm approaches; trees, rocks, mountains shout at

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